Philippines and the United States plan to conduct more than 500 joint military activities this year
According to Philippine TV station ABS-CBN, citing a statement from a Philippine Navy spokesperson, the Philippines and the United States plan to conduct more than 500 joint military exercises and security operations in 2026.
According to the Philippine TV station, the joint activities include large-scale military exercises such as "Balikatan," maritime cooperation activities, air force exercises, and exchanges of experts in the defense field.
An anonymous Philippine military official said that the decision to conduct joint military activities with the United States was not made hastily, but because 2027 is a special year, and 2026 is considered a crucial year.
ABS-CBN TV added, citing the statement from the Philippine Navy spokesperson, that some of the planned exercises are seen as a "rehearsal" in case of unforeseen situations arising from increased military activities in the Taiwan Strait.
Original: toutiao.com/article/1856861809429516/
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